Spragging device for motor vehicles



G. WILSON SPRAGGING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES July 2, 1929.

Filed Jan. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ITT] July 2, 1929. Q, WILSQNSPRAGGING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 5, 1928 2 Sheets- Sheet 2Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR SAFETY NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, ENGLAND, A COM- D.

SPRAGGING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed January 5, 1928, Serial No. 244,703, and in GreatBritain January 8, 1927.

This invention relates to spragging devices for motor vehicles of thekind comprising a free wheel clutch mechanism and means actuated fromthe change gear lever (hereinafter referred to as the gear lever) foroperating the engagement means, for example a pawl mechanism, betweenthe free wheel clutch members so to render the said clutch inoperativefor certain positions of the gear lever. Such devices are referred tohereinafter and in the claims as of the kind described.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the kinddescribed which will be positive in operation and having means wherebymanoeuvring of a vehicle may be carried out without a drivers having toalter his usual methods of handling a car. Then with a view to reducingwear of the device to a minimum, another object is to pro vide meanswhereby the device will be operative only when the vehicle is in acondition when it can move backwards out of control. A further object ofthe invention is to provide means whereby the device may be renderedoperative when the gear lever is in' one forward gear position,preferably first, with a view to facilitating starting off from astandstill when the vehicle is facing up an incline. I

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of one form of constructionaccording to the invention, of the clutch portion of the device.

Fig. 2is a plan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1, and also shows the connection of aclutch control plate to the change gear lever shaft. V

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing theconnection of another clutchcontrol plate with the gear lever shaft. p

Fig. is an end elevation in section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 6, ofanother form of construction of the inventionapplied, to a gearboxhaving a centre universal ball gear lever mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly in section taken on the line VIVI ofFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view partly in section taken on the line VII-VII ofFig. (5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of alternative forms of clutch controlplates.

Fig. 10 is a view of another controlling pawl.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the numeral1 indicates the main shaft of a gearbox, and 2 is a ratchet wheelrigidlymounted on said shaft and between members 3 and 4: of a frame which maybe arranged either inside the gear box or suitably housed immediatelybehind the gear box. Two pawls 5 and 6 are pivoted at 7 and S to engagewith the ratchet wheel 2, the pivotpins 7, 8 being arrangeddiametrically opposite to one another about the shaft 1. The said pawlsare connected by a link to ensure that the movement of the one pawl 5,hereinafter referred to as the controlling pawl, sets up a similarmovement in the other pawl 6. It is obvious that more than twointerconnected pawls may be used.

The controlling pawl 5 has an additional member 10 pivotally mountedthereon and on the side of the pin 7 remote from the ratchet wheel, themember 10 with an extension 5 of the said pawl forming a fork, while aspring 11 serves to hold the two sides of the fork apart. A tensionspring 12 maintains the member 10 against a shoulder on the pawl 5 andso tends to keep the pawls in engagement with the ratchet wheel 2.

The control of the pawls 5 and 6 is effected by means ofa plate 13having a V-notch formed thereon (Fig. 4), the said plate coacting withthe resilient member or arm 10 and through the spring 11 with the pawl5. The plate 13 is arranged to move at right angles to the arm 10, sothat when the notch is over the resilient arm as shown the arm is in itselevated position and the pawls are in engagement with the ratchetwheel. The plate 18 is operatively connected to the change gear lever sothat the position of the notch will vary according to the position ofsaid lever in its to and fro movement, while, if desired, the plate 13may be disengaged from the gear changing mechanism. Fig. 4 shows theplate 13 connected by a link 14 to an arm 15 keyed to but a sliding fiton a gear lever shaft 16. l A second sliding plate 17 similar to theplate 13 is arranged alongside the latter and adapted to coact with apin 21 projecting, on

both sides if desired, from an arm 22 keyed to thechange gear levershaft 16. This second "sliding plate is brought into action only whenthe gear lever is placed in certain selected positions according to thenumber of gears employed in the various-makes of cars to wh ch theinvention may be applied, and

" is especially arranged relatively to the gear lever so as to preventthe pawls coming into contact with the ratchet wheel while the gearlever is passing through the neutral position after the reverse gear hasbeen in operation.

The operation of the device is as follows /Vhen any, of theg'ca-rs areengaged the lower edge of the pla'te13 at either the one side or theother of the notch is in contact with the resilient arm 10 of thecontrolling pawl 5, and depresses same, thereby compressing the spring11, such pressure being communicated through the spring 11 to thecontrolling pawl so that the pawls are moved clear of the ratchetwheel2.

I When thegear lever is moved to the neutral position the plate 13 ismoved to allow the notch to come opposite the arm 10 of the pawl 5,thereby allowing the pawls to engage with the ratchet wheel.

\ The object in fitting the controlling pawl 5 with tl'ie'arm 1O istovensure free movement of the gear lever in the event of the pawlsbeing locked in the ratchet wheel when the gear has been missed and thevehicle chocked.

' In Sacha case the change gear lever is moved to engage first gear andimmediately the vehicle moves forward the pawls automatically disengageand allow any further change of ge'arsto be made.

When the gears are employed to reverse the direction of travel of thevehicle, the gear lever is noved laterally so that the pin 21 engagesthe forked portion of the lever 19, after which the gear lever is movedto thef reverse position. This causes the pinj2l to press, against theprongv 19 so that the platel? is thus also brought into actionandfpresses against the arm 10, i. e., both plates are,actngsimultaneously on thls part of the pawl, (except in cases, where theplate 13is disengaged from control by' the change levermechanism). Onmoving the gear lever out of reverseposition. the plate17 remainsstationary owing to the space between the prongs 19 and 19" of the lever19, which allowsthe pin 21 to move freely without moving the said lever.Hence the plate 17 continueste. control the pawls until the gear leverpasses completely through the neutral position into the position toengage first gear,. when the prong 19, will be, pressed by the pin 21and thelever 19 rocked so as to restorethe plate 17 to its normal orinoperative position, the plate 13 maintaining the pawls out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 2. The driver is thus prevented frominadvertently allowing the pawls to engage the ratchet wheel on passingthrough the neutral position before the vehicle has been brought to astandstill.

It will be seen that a vehicle titled with the above appliance cannotrun backwards downhill through the driver missing the gears inattempting to make changes from one gear to another; also that theaction of the appliance is positive and automatic and entails no extraaction on the part of the driver, beyond the ordinary changing gearoperations, for the reason that the pawls always cngage the ratchetwheel during the l'l()(l in which the change gear lever is in theneutral position. In the case where the plate 13 is arranged to becapable oi disengagcmcnt from control by the gear lever the pawls willoperate when first gear is engaged in addition to their operation whengear lever is in the neutral position, thereby providing an additionalsafeguard for vehicles with very heavy loads.

The only occasions when the pawls are inoperative when the gear lever isin the neutral position are immediately after the reverse gear has beenengaged or if the additioiml hand lever or pedal has been employed. Insuch cases the pawls remain inoperative until the gear lever is moved toengage first gear and then back to neutral when the pawls immediatelyresume operation autolnatically.

Spring loaded catches 23, 24- are employed to hold the notched platesand connections in correct position when such are disengaged fromcontrol by the gear lever. D

The additional hand lever may be connected to the forked lever 19 asshown in Fig. 3. This lever useful when it is dosired to push thevehicle to and fro by hand, for example when manoeuvring in a garage.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, thearrangement of the ratchet and pawl mechanism is similar to that aboveset forth with rcrtcrcncc to Figs. 1 to 4 and is housed in a casing onthe outside of the gear box. The numeral 25 indicates the controllingpawl which is actuatcd by means of a rocking lever 26 pivoted about apin 27. The lever 26 has an arm 26" with a cylindrical end, whichengages a corresponding recess in the pawl 25. A second arm :26" on thelever 26 is adapted to cooperate with a sliding plate 2; correspondinglo the plate 17 of Figs. 1 to 4'. The lever 26 is reces ed at its huband cut away for about half its thickness at its upper portion toreceive :1 lever 29 which is also pivoted about the pin 27, the arm 29of said lever being adapted to cooperate with a second sliding plate 30corresponding to the plate 13 of Figs. '1 to 4-.

A second arm 29" of the lever 29 is contlll llll

nected to the casing by means of a tension spring 31, and to an arm 26ofthe lever 26 by means of a second tension spring The lever 29corresponds to the resilient arm 10 of Fig. 1. The spring 31 acts on thelever 26 through the arm 29" which abuts against the shoulder formed bycutting away the lever 26 above the recessed portion.

The plate has a lateral extension 30 which is slotted as shown toreceive the end of a gear lever One of the edges of the plate 30 isnotched as shown to coact with the arm 29, the relative positions of thenotch and slot being such that when the lever 33 is in neutral the arm29 lies in the notch and thus allows the pawls to engage the ratchetwheel. Movement of the lever 33 out of neutral will thus render the freewheel clutch in operative. The plate 30 is cranked as shown in Fig. 6 toform an abutment 30" for cooperation under certain conditions with theplate 23, as will be hereinafter described.

The plate 28 has a one way notch formed on its side which normallyreceives the end of the arm 26 The forward end of the said arm iscranked to form an abutment 28 which is adapted to cooperate with theshoulder 30 on the plate 30. The front end. face of the plate 28 isadapted to abut with the gear lever 33 when the latter is moved toreverse, which movement is to the left of Fig. 7, the position shownbeing neutral.

It will be seen that when the gear lever 33 moved into any of the threeforward gears (indicated by labels) the plate 30 only will move and thusrender the pawls inoperative. lVhen the lever 33 is moved to reverse theplate 28 additionally comes into action so that both plates render thepawls inoperative. When the lever 33 is restored to neutral the plate 30moves out of the controlling positiombut the plate 28 remains in. thenew posi tion so that the pawls still remain inoperative. hen the lever33 is moved .into first gear position the shoulder 30" on the plate 30abuts against the shoulder 28 of the plate 23 and causes the latter tobe restored to its normal position. i

To prevent the plate 28 remaining in its operative position in the eventof the lever 33 being moved into second gear without going into first,an L-shaped bar 34 is arranged for sliding movement parallel with theplates 28 and 30. A forked lever 35 is pivotally mounted between the bar34: and plate 28, the forked end engaging a set screw 36 in the plate28,while the other end of the said lever projects into an opening in thebar 34.

lVith this arrangement, when the plate 28 is pushed to the right forreverse gear selection, it will rock the lever 35 and cause the bar 34to be moved to the position indicated in dotted lines. If therefore thegear lever 33 be moved direct from reverse to a second gear, the lever33 having to be moved transversely first, the extension of the L-bar 34will be engaged by the said lever and the bar 3% moved to the left, sothat the lever 35 is rocked and the plate 28 restored to its normalposition.

F 8 and 9 show an alternative pair of plates 28 and 30, which are usedwhere it is desired to have the spragging device operative while thefirst gear is in engagement. Both plates are extended at their frontends to provide for a lost motion movement, the plate 28 having anabutmcnt 28" and the plate 30 a slot at 30. The relative positions ofthe plates and gear lever as shown are the normal neutral positions. Thedotted lines show the abnormal neutral positions of the plates or theposition of the plates when the gear lever 33 has been moved intoreverse and then moved back to neutral. Movement of the gear lever 33from this position into first gear will move the plates 28 and 30 withit, so that the pawls will again be operative. It should be noticed thatfrom the abnormal. neutral position the gear lever 33 cannot be movedtransversely to engage either second or third gearsit must first go intofirst gear position-so that with this form the lever 35 and bar 3d areunnecessary.

Fi 10 shows a form of controlling pawl37, the controlling arms 37 and 37of which arerigid therewith. The numerals 38 and 39 indicate the camplates. This form is used where it is desired to have the device inoperation while the first gear is in engagement.

The vehicle will therefore always be moving before the pawls are to berendered inoperative for the second and higher gears, so that theresilient arm is unnecessary.

1. A spragging device for motor vehleles ofthe kind described,comprising a lost motion mechanism operatively interposed between theclutch engagement means and the gear lever soth at when the gear levergoes into reverse the clutch rendered inoperative and remains so untilthe gear lever has entered another gear position.

2. A spragging device according to claim 1, wherein means are providedwhereby for normal running of a vehicle the spragging device is throwninto action only when the gear lever is in the neutral position.

3. A spragging device according to claim 1, wherein means are providedwhereby for normal running of a vehile the spragging device is throwninto action only when the gear lever is in the neutral position and inone forward gear position.

4. Aspragging device of the kind described including a free wheel clutchan d a gear lever,

and means operatively connecting the engagement means of the said clutchwith the gear lever whereby the clutch may be rendered. op erative orinoperative according to the position of said lever, a lost motionmechanism, and means for operatively connecting said mechanism on theone hand to the clutch engagement means and on the other hand to thegear lever.

5. A spragging device of the kind described including a free wheelclutch and a gear lever, and means operatively connecting the engagementmeans of the said clutch with the gear lever whereby the clutch may berendered operative or inoperative according to the position of saidlover, a lever, a forked arm on said lever, means connected with thegear lever on the one hand and on the other engaging in said forked armwith lost motion, and means connecting the other arm of said lever tothe clutch engagement means.

6. A spragging device oi the kind described including a free wheelclutch and a gear lever, and means opcrativelyconnecting the engagementmeans of the said clutch with the gear lever whereby the clutch may berenderezil operative or inoperative according to the position of saidlever, a lost motion mechanism, means for operatively connecting saidmechanism on the one hand to the clutch engagement means and on theother hand to the gear lever, and a hand lever and means operativelyconnecting said hand lever te the lost motion mechanism.

7. A spraggingdevice oi the kind described including a free wheel clutchand a gear lever, resilient controlling means associated with theengagement means-of said clutch, and means for operatively connectingsaid resilient means with the gear lever.

8. A spragging device of the kind described including a gear lever, andmeans operatively connecting the clutch engagement means of the saidclutch with the gear lever whereby the clutch may be rendered operativeor inoperative according to the position of said lever, a lost mot-ionmechanism, and means for operatively connecting said mechanism on-theone hand to the clutch engagement means and on the other hand to thegear lever.

9. A spragging device according to claim 8 wherein the camming meanscomprises two sliding members each having a cam portion on one of itssides, means for connecting one of said sliding members with the gearlever, a lost motion mechanism, and means for connecting said lostmotion mechanism with the other sliding memberon the one hand and withthe gear lever on theother hand.

10. A spragg'ing device of the kind described includmg a gear lever,'twocam plates coacting with the clutch engagement means,

a transverse slot in the one plate adapted to receive the"gearlever, theother or reverse plate being adapted to abut against one side of thegear lever when said lever is moved from neutral to reverse, andabutments on each plate adapted to coact wlth one another to restore thereverse plate to neutral on movement of the gear lever from neutral intofirst gear after reverse has been engaged.

11. A spragging device according to claim 10, an L-bar slidably mountedparallel with the cam plates, and a lever operatively interposed betweenthe two plates, the extension member of the L-bar being adapted to abutagainst the gear lever when said lever is moved toa particular gearposition.

12. A spragging device according to claim 10 in which the cam plates aretermed at their gear lever engaging ends with lost motion portions.

13. A spragging device of the kind described including a pawl andratchet clutch and a gear lever, and means operatively eonnccting thepawl mechanism of the said clutch with the gear lever whereby the clutchmay be rendered operative or inoperative according to the position ofsaid lever, a lost motion mechanism, and means for operativelyconnecting said mechanism on the one hand to the pawl mechanism and onthe other hand to the gear lever.

1 1. A spragging device according to claim 13 wherein the pawl mechanismcomprises a plurality of interconnected pawls equally spaced around theratchet wheel, one of which pawls serves as a controlling pawl, andmeans operatively connecting said controlling pawl to the gear lever.

15. A spragging device according to claim 13 wherein the pawl mechanismcomprises 'an even plurality of interconnected pawls equally spacedaround the ratchet wheel, one of whlch pawls serves as a controllingpawl, and means operatively connecting said controlling pawl to the gearlever.

16. A spragging device according to claim 13 wherein the pawl meclninismcomprises two diametrically opposite pawls disposed about the ratchetwheel, and a rod connecting said pawls, one of which pawls serves as acontrolling pawl, and means operatively connecting said controlling pawlto the gear lever.

17. A spragging device according to claim 13, wherein the pawl mechanismincludes a controlling pawl, a pivoted arm associated with said pawl, aspring interposed between said arm and said pawl and means operativelyconnecting said pivoted arm to the gear lever.

18. A spragging device according to claim 18, whereinthe interengagingfaces of the pawl and ratchet mechanism are shaped to form arcs havingtheir centres at the pivoting point of the respective pawl.

In witness whereof I have signed this speci- GEORGE VILSON.

' ficati on.

